Press Release: The 25th Stellar Award Winners

The 25th Annaul Stellar Award Winners Are:

Artist of the Year:
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship; Souled Out; Verity Records

Song of the Year:
Mary, Mary, “God in Me” – The Sound, Columbia

Male Vocalist of the Year:
Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMI Gospel

Female Vocalist of the Year:
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Group Duo of the Year:
Mary, Mary, The Sound, Columbia

New Artist of the Year:
Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records

CD of the Year:
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship; Souled Out; Verity Records

Choir of the Year:
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records

Producer of the Year:
Donald Lawrence & Daniel Weatherspoon, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year:
Mary, Mary, The Sound, Columbia

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year:
Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s, Fall On Me, MCG Records

Contemporary Male of the Year:
Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMI Gospel

Traditional Male of the Year:
Donnie McClurkin, We All Are One (Live in Detroit), Verity Records

Contemporary Female of the Year:
Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records

Traditional Female of the Year:
Dottie Peoples, Do It!, DP Muzik Group

Contemporary CD of the Year:
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records

Traditional CD of the Year:
Shari Addison, Shari Addison, Verity Records

Urban/ Inspirational Single / Performance of the Year:
Mary, Mary, “God in Me” – The Sound, Columbia

Music Video of the Year:
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Traditional Choir of the Year:
Bishop Paul S. Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir, Cry Your Last Tear,
Light Records

Contemporary Choir of the Year:
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records

Instrumental CD of the Year:
Ben Tankard, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Verity

Special Event CD of the Year:
The Clark Sisters, J. Moss and Kierra Sheard, Silky Soul Music –
A Tribute to Maze, Barantera Music Grou

Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year:
Da’ T.R.U.T.H., The Big Picture, Cross Movement Records

Children’s Performance of the Year:
Rev. Dr. Emory Andrews and Oxon Hill High School Choir,
Amazing, Yrome Records

Quartet of the Year:
Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s, Fall On Me, MCG Records

Recorded Music Package of the Year:
Denise Trotman, Donald Lawrence – The Confession Part 1,
Quiet Water/Verity

Praise and Worship CD of the Year:
Stephen Hurd, Times of Refreshing, Integrity Gospel

January 12, 2010– Chicago, Ill.

–The Stellar Gospel Music Awards will celebrate 25 years of honoring the biggest and brightest in Gospel music, with a star-studded 25^th Anniversary Awards event hosted by Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Vickie Winans. The show returns to Nashville for the 5^th consecutive year and is set to take place this Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the Grand Ole Opry House.  Stars from music, film and television will join Don Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Central City Productions, in celebration of this important milestone in bringing Gospel music’s premier event to fans for 25 years.  

“The Stellar Awards have been my passion and it has been a long journey from where we started to where we are today,” said Don Jackson. “The show now airs in more than 125 markets around the country and features all the best that Gospel music has to offer.  We are proud of what we have accomplished and are grateful to the industry and fans for continuing to believe in us.”

The show will feature performances from BeBe & CeCe Winans, Mary, Mary, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples, Donnie McClurkin, Donald Lawrence, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and “Sunday Best” winner Crystal Aikin.  The list of presenters includes stellar Gospel singers The Clark Sisters, Walter Hawkins, “KiKi” Kierra Sheard, J. Moss, as well as actress Sherri Sheppard from the popular TV show “The View,” and David and Tamela Mann from Tyler Perry’s TBS show “Meet the Browns.”

Thousands of Gospel music fans will descend upon Nashville for the Stellar Gospel Music Awards weekend.  Fans can enjoy several star-studded events, open to the public. 

Thursday, January, 14

“Stellar Awards Kick Off Reception”

7pm

at the Sheraton Music City Hotel

777 McGavock Pike

Nashville, Tenn. , 37214

(Open to the Public)

Friday, January 15

“Save the Dream” Home Buyer’s Seminar

3pm

The Sheraton Music City Hotel

777 McGavock Pike

Nashville, Tenn , 37214

(Open to the public)

Friday, January 15

The Stellar Pre-Show

7pm

Acuff Theater at the Grand Ole Opry

hosted by Dorinda Clark Cole and Byron Cage

and featuring performances from many of

Gospel Music’s hottest stars 

(Open to the Public)

(This is not a red carpet media event.  We have not invited media due to space)

Saturday, January 16

The 25^th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards

3:00 Media Check in – Stellar Awards Credentialed media only

4pm – Red Carpet Arrivals

The Grand Ole Opry House

Hosted by Vickie Winans, Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin

(Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster.com)

Media must be credentialed for all events.  For further information and media credentials, please contact Donna Torrence at Mediasavvy PR, Inc. at (201) 854-7082 or via e-mail at donna@mediasavvypr.com.

ABOUT CENTRAL CITY PRODUCTIONS

The Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) produces the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.  It has been 24 years since the first awards show was taped at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago , and the Stellar Awards has now become the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors African American artists. This one of a kind award show has showcased top Gospel artists and many television and film stars.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, produced by Barbara Wilson for Central City Productions. Michael Johnson will direct this year’s award show, and Jennifer Jackson is the Executive in Charge of production. Erma Gray Davis is the President and Chief Operations Officer of Central City Productions. Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions is a distributor of original programming to television and cable networks.

Please visit www.thestellarawards.com.